Glens Falls >> A deal is in the works that will keep professional hockey at the Glens Falls Civic Center, according to a report by NewsChannel 13.

The Calgary Flames’ American League Hockey team, formerly the Abbotsford Heat, are expected to sign a deal with the city by next week that will ensure Glens Falls will have a hockey team come next fall.

Mayor Jack Diamond, who, along with Bartholomew, has been in constant contact with the AHL about bringing a team back to Glens Falls, did not return a voicemail requesting contact.

Advertisement

According to the NewsChannel 13 report, there are still details being worked out but that the two sides have a principle agreement.

The Adirondack Phantoms, the city’s now former AHL team, played their last game at the Glens Falls Civic Center on April 18, ending a five year run.

“We’re all disappointed that we do not have a team as of today to announce that they’re coming to Glens Falls this fall. We’re hopeful that we’re going to be able to have a team in September but that is not a certainty at this point,” Bartholomew told The Saratogian at the time.

It appears things have changed.

The Heat were recently bought out of the remaining five years in their 10-year lease with the city of Abbotsford and speculation immediately arose that they could find a home in Glens Falls. The City of Abbortsford guaranteed the franchise $5.7 million per year. Abbortsford has lost $12 million since 2010 on the team, which forced it to break the contract. The Heat averaged 3,007 spectators per game — second worst in the league — which filled less than half of the team’s 7,000-seat arena.

Glens Falls is in dire need of an AHL team to play 38 regular-season games — and possibly more in the playoffs — to make the city fiscally viable. Without those dates being filled, the onus to keep the building running falls upon the city’s homeowners and businesses through increased taxes.

Before the Phantoms, the Civic Center played host to Adirondack Red Wings, an affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, from 1979-1999, winning four Calder Cups, the trophy for the top team in the AHL.